Gland



A Oct-21, 1930.

G. C. TAYLOR GLAND Filed` Nov. 5, 1923 y//II:IIIIIIIIII G.C'. 7' ylor INVEcrIQTypR BY @M ATTORNEY rfoi condensing. turbines) .f

Patented oct; 21, l193.0

i -5 TEfDp-STATES;

GEORGE 0,.-TnYLo3, on rE'ILADELrnrA, pnnnsynvnmgnssienqn k.'alrnsriif,Nuenl i .OT-ISE ELECTRIQLMQMANUFACTUIMNG CQMPANY A CORPOYRONQERENNSXFT invention relates to" glandsy ing Vrotary members, such as turbine shafts?, Y'

and it has for its object to `provide apparatus ofv the characterdesignated which shall bea` condene vide air-*cooledv glanda'discsy Which use thecondensatel of acondensibleiluid as a sealing` medium against pressureeitherl from; Wlthinf onwithout a Huid-actuated turbine. 'A

Glands for steam turbines and like apparatus maybe roughly divided into two general groups, i. e., those .which seall againstfpressuresfabove atmosphere (used .for non-condensing turbines) iand those which? seal a,f fa'i nst pressures .below y atmosphere I (used In glands used for?, condensing V47,operation it isa'dvisable to `admitisteam or Waterfromv anffoutside souree to serve as thesealing medium and thus prevent the-entraueefolf` airy into the turbine or condenser;

In', the Water-sealed typejof." gland, Water v may'ibe introduced from an outside source to `A `-YYio V.cipal advantages-o'thistypefis that yitmay formvthe sealing medium. One 'ofthe prin# f be usedto sealeithera'gainst pressures above 'at1`nosphere,` or against pressure below atmosphere'. Y Hence it may be used-onfti'lrbines which operate either'eondensing or knoni-'con-y densing. @ne of thedisadvantages, however,

is the necessity forproviding asealingInedi-VV Vum froman outsidefsource. Another disadvantage is that the gland requires thecentrif- Y ngal aetion of rotationto'form 'a seal across the @Perline bstweeeiher'Oteies/shaftand the Stationary-casing; L QbYpusly, ai decrease in rotational speed of theshaft decreasesthe,

leffectiveness of the seal, when the shaft doesnotlrotatejheremay be noseal, 4-

In the steam sealed jtype `o -glan`d,-lstea1l"" v may be vadmitted fromv ank outside sourceto s serve asthef sealing mediunil .One of the ing thehousing between the dise or; dises and effectiveness of .the sealff i undisturbedi 'gardle'ss of shaft rotationsf` n v :f It thespeci'c object omyinventionto provide a' gland which has the advantages of v` both the steam and they vvater sealedftype', but l Withnonefof thedisadvantages peculiar to either type. It issuitable for all-conditions i ofI operation, vandmay utilizea singley medi.,- k umfor,s ealingnamely, steam'pfrom .theinv terior of the turbinei To this end, Iprovide a-f rotor` shaft with onefor more, thinl discs, of relatively large diameter Whicharelsurjr'oundf ed bya housing having thin or aircooled- `Walls [so that atleast a portion, o-f1 the steam Tnternathe glandfriom thertuibne, housing f may be eondensed .to constitute a; water. seal;

bine. speed should be; so 10W`r aste b egnc-'aplalol efY ofv maintaining uidfseal, `yet steam enter-v thefinterior Walls Vthereof-is sufficient. to coninvention, and Eiggis sectional 'vie showvfora ,turbine wlichl'atztmesis friuli: collden's.:y maand-at ,other-ftlmesnoncon ensmg;

vlll/lith this `construction, even through thetuiA stitute an adequate seal; However, I ,piopose theiusezofA aahousingwhioh';fits-disslwvith l s y relatively close clearanceso that, for;A all pliage l ,tica-1, turbnelspeeds, the; dsbsare.Gapablei'lf 7 5.y a

aturbinehousingf13-- dis-GS15 VWfllclose-clearance, ilslllus,mated;v l'

'ShQW two such discs 15a and thelhousing 14.1 isv provided with ychairliners 1516; ,and 16.

vv/fh'chsiuioundthe.discsl,circulanterentialT o A isffsio'iifiof-f;ilY i' principal advantagesefthis typeisthanthe that@eenmoreweiisioifthe@chamberel@ed 190 A i and 19V oaf'the chamberslG Vand 16 so that steam in the chambers may be condensed to establish a liquid seal. 11n additionto the thin walls "1 8'and19', the louter wall 20 ofthe outermost chamber 16 may also be provided with cooling iins 21 for the same purpose.V

' Asshown, the outer wall is also provided 'aleakoE 'channel 2 2 .communicating with aleakoff'passage 23 so"that surplus" condensate may escape from the gland. The

ing a seal may be obtained when the turbineis running condensing, anda branch BOleading totheatmosphere.iV AV valve 31 in the branch 3() isopen permitting leakage of condensate i 'In'orderto minimize the passage of steamandopen to permit steam to-passtothe to the `:atmosphereV`V when ruiming non-con densing andisiclosed when running condensf` ing. A valve 32 inthe branch 29 isrclosed whenthe turbine is running non-condensing gland when running condensing.; i '1 Vron'lthe:interior-of theturbine casing 18`to the chambery 16, I `provide the 'wall 24 with any Vsuitabl' epacking 25 cooperating `with the shaft 11";1- and, `inorder to resist leakage 'from' the chamber 16 :tof the outer chamber 16",

Y the-adj acentwalls l8and 1 9 `are connected by ,acylindricalflportion 26 having. packing 27 -withrespect t'o A the shaft v1l; Packing' 285is also provided-between .chamber lfj and theV Y outer -walll20tolpreventleakage' of sealing liquid between the wall 2() `and the rotor. f `From-the structure thus far/described, the operation of apparatus made? in accordance withV myY invention'` will be apparent. Steam Aleaksby the packing 'ro`m theiinterior of theturbine and#entersfthe chamber 16j.V It

" tlienfpasses radially Y outward', around Y the periphery Tof thejdisclaof this chamber,

5 and thenmadially inwardY oIrthel1 other side of i the* disc. JSuchsteam 'as leaks.l .bythe packing'27 from the vchamber 16" enters the chamber 16",? travels ,radially outward oi` its `disc 15, around the -peripheryf ofthis disc', and then `radially inward on the othersi'dea Y, v The rotation 'of the discs -15`by cntactw-iththe steam imparts YtoV it 1a rotary -movement 'which, 'together with thej radially outward and" radially inward movement,producesv` a resultant spirally outward and spirally in# wardpath. The thinw'alls 18-and-19 and4 the yin'nedjwall20serve toair `coolfthe Vchambersaiid 'effect suiicientfgcondensation to pro- The water isurged--radially outward bythe centrifugal orcegimparted' to it 'by' the discs' outer p'ortionfof each offthe chambers '16A and 16` "ThisV results fin an '.'eectivefwater `non#condiel'n'sing turbine'," is, Vpressure inside the casing Vgreater beobtained.

and 16". The discs l5 are of such diameter and the clearances aresufficientlyclose so f that, with the cooperation of the packing 251 and 27, .an effective steam seal is had iffthere maintain thewater seal.'VA c 4 Y I -have illustrated Vthe operation of my yinvention by assuming .that .it is: applied, gtoga i N"""the nlwithg out the casing, the steam'passing'from the leak-oft pipe 23 has abranch 29 which coni' municates with a stage of atur-bine 29' where` Vsuitable pressurefor lcondensing and formend where the gland is applied; is lessqthan the pressure' without the casing.A Y.

VInsuch a case, valve 31 is lclosed andlsteam`4 is admittedtojthe glan'dfroma suitablefstage ofa turbine 291 through Ythepipe 29, the openV valve 32and pipe23^whichgactsras a leakl Voi Y pipe" when the turbine is Y being `operated nonl-condensingVand is condensed iwithinthe chamber 16; Condensate then-'passes around Y the outeri disc 'lwand thence'to the inner outside isprevented by the packingV 28V combined with the pressure outside -Athecasing Steam` admitted through ,thefpipe 123V tothe gland may be taken romany desired source,

, thoughlprefertaking it4 from'an interstage of the turbine `where a suitable pressure may innig, ai show amciieaaaerifflyfiii;

vention suitable for application V-to al turbine L 3 3 which at times Vis operated condensing and 'atgother vtimes; non-condensing.: ;v #Ingthisfigi ure the principal ipart's of the gland'are usimi?` lar;V in constructionto vthose illustrated jinaFig; l' and need:` noi furthery description:V z Ilpthis modification, however, 1 1 take, steamA from* a stage Y at 3 4 of gthey turbine Where af 2suitable pressure may be obtained, andfconductgit Y through a pipe 35 tolan inlet 36":inthe cyline `drical, .portion "26, ojf` the 'glaiid. Ba c2 king meansand 39 arefprovided between the shaft. l1 of theturbine,` f Theoperation" of apparati cylindrical Vportion" 26,fof tli'e gland the y Y .fimeeiwcf cordancje withthis modifieationjsapparentg the pipe 35 and enters thecylindrical :portion ing means 38 'f-andi39 into the? chambers sur-` rounding the.- discs VY15 wher'eit,isccndensed V and forms f a' liquid se`ail.-l 1l It th'evf'turbine is beingfoperateid non-condensing':excess: con,- 1

VSteam"from the'fturbine at-34 passes through L25 26 of the ugland atjand'leaksbythe packthereof, and I desire, therefore,

ceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as `are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A packing gland for the shaft of a tur' bine comprising an'annular'chamber having an outer peripheral and two radial walls and open at its inner periphery, `the two radial walls of said chamber beingvexposed to coolingmedium for condensing elastic fluid which escapes from thecasing ofthe turbine, and a rotatable element extending radially outwardly and disposed within the chamber for forming and maintaining a sealing z'tnnuliis of the condensate produced therein -against the outer periphery lof the chamber.

42. AL packing gland for thevrotor jof anA elasticziiuid turbine comprising a stationary casing communicating with the turbine cas? ing and spaced therefrom,4the walls y:of said stationary casing being exposed to the cooling effect of the atmosphere for eectingcondensation of the elastic fluid passing therethrough, a'rotatable disc so disposed 'the` stationary casing'that vthevescap'in'g elastic iuid iscompelled to pass outwardly from the shaft and inwardly toward the shaft betweenthe disc and the air-cooled walls of the stationary casing, whereby condensation of the c elastic iuid is effected, said vdisc when in ro*Y- casing for forming a liquid seal between the disc and stationary casing, and. condensateY outlet means provided in the stationary casing. y f

3. A packing gland forsealing the rotor of a turbine'comprisingaz stationary casing communicating with the turbine casing and including two radial air cooled walls exposed to the atmosphere,a rotatable disc disposed in the casing between said radial :walls 'soV that the escaping velastic Huid iscompelled to pass u outward' from'the rotorand spirally spirally v toward the rotor between the disc inward and the air cooled walls of the casing, 'where'l y by condensation of the elastic fluid is effected,

tain saidcondensate against the outerv periph- .ery 'of the casing for forming a liquid seal between the disc and. casing, and condensate outlet means for the casing located above the bottom thereof and below the rotor so as to- `retain therein a substantial body of conden sate for sealing purposes.,v

Il. A packing gland for the rotor a turf f elastic fluid Chambrcomprising a plurality of glandcasings p connectedto the casing vof theturbineand to vradial aircooled walls exposed tothe atmosphere and the Yother casingincluding atleast one thin radial air cooled wall exposed to the atmosphere, a rotatable disc so disposedA between the walls in each casing that elastic fluid escaping from theturbine iscompelledl te-pass successively betweenthe disc and the air cooled walls, of each casing, whereby condensationof the elastic fluid `is eected, said disc when in 'rotation adapted'to' maintain Veach other, oneof said casings -'including'two saidcondensate"` against the outerfperiphery 'ofthe casing forforminga liquid Vseal bef 4 F80 tween'the disc and casing, and condensate outlet means lfor one of the casings arranged:

above the bottom thereof and below the rotor so thatv a substantialbody of condensate is ref'` tained thereinfor sealing purposes.

V5.x A packing glandfor the shaftfof an' elastic fluid' turbine` comprising. a chamber communicating at its inner peripheryr with the turbine casing, said chamber having vair ycooling means for effectingy condensationof! elastic fluid. passing therethroughy to form al sealing annulus, said 4chamber chamber from the heat lemanating from. the;

ler member 4disposed within the chamber outer periphery. of the chamber. 6. A packing gland for the 'shaft ofpatur'- ing means for condensing elastic fluidV which 5 niay escape from'the casing ofthe turbine, said chamber tation adapted to maintain said condensate against the outer periphery of the stationary beingspaced from the Casin Y to provide aV recess in which may beadispose a medium shieldingsaid chamber lfrom 'the' heat emanating from the interior of the tur` bine, a rotatable element disposed withinV removing excess' condensate v`when thepressure within the turbine is aboveI atmospheric pressure.

communicating with' the turbine casingat its inner periphery, said chamber having aircooling'means for effecting fcondensa'tionof said disc when in rotation 4adaptedto main- 'the chamber for forminga sealingfannulus'ofl the condensate produced therein,'me ans for` and means forisupplyiiig yconde nsl packing gland for lshaft-of 'an turbine 'comprising a chamber condensable lelastic fluid passing` there-V through to form asealing annulus, said .cham- Y recess in which .bedisposeda medium shielding sai'dchamberfrom the heat emanat ingfrom the interior ofthe turbine, a rotat-f ing impeller member disposed withinthe for maintainingthe sealing annulus against. the outer periphery of the' chamber,

, i'o". Y bine comprising achamberhavingaircool sab'le elastic fluid to the chamber-'When the pressure in theturbine is below atmospheric pressure.`

8. A packing gland for sealing the rotor Y of a turbine against leakage comprising a v disc secured to' said rotor, a casing enclosing said disc and having thin aircooledradial Walls on opposite sides ofthe dise to form a' narrow condensing passage Ytherewith corn- V.niunicating; lneansgbetween Vthe turbinevrand one side oi' thecasing at J@he inner periphery 1 thereof, said disc `When in rotation maintaininga sealing annulus at the outer periphery Y ofthe interior of th'ejcasing. o d Y v In testimony. wher-eef', have hereunto suh- `scriloedlny name Vthis 129th day of October, 1923. i Y Y Y GEORGE TAYLoR. 

